One of the most frustrating parts about the job hunt can be the hunt itself. Searches lasting weeks, months or longer discourage even the most determined applicants. Though rejection letters demoralize and may tempt you to make radical changes to your approach, take the opportunity to honestly assess what you’re doing before implementing wholesale adjustments.

For example, if you aren’t getting responses to your initial inquiries, how are you contacting companies? If you’re applying through a third party jobs website, your resume may just be one of many sitting in an idle mailbox. Consider contacting someone directly in the company’s Recruiting or HR department to confirm your application has been received. Are you getting interviews but not passing the first round? Perhaps you need practice answering questions to build your comfort level. Or maybe you’re getting to the final round but don’t receive an offer. Remember, businesses can’t hire all qualified candidates, and the final decision may come down to a minor detail completely out of your control. There isn’t much for you to change, then—it just means you need to keep plugging away. If your process is sound and professional, trust it and adjust as necessary—and it will eventually lead you to a job that works for you.

Lex parsimoniae. That’s Occam’s razor in Latin: Simpler is, often, better. While this seems like good life advice in general, it is particularly apt for your resume—especially the layout. With myriad templates and advice available, putting together a resume can feel like a daunting task. However, in my view, if you allow Occam’s razor to guide your thinking and execution, you can craft a resume that says everything you need about your experiences and skillset—cleanly and succinctly!

One viewpoint to consider: How would your resume look on a mobile device? With more folks accessing email via their phone, there is a good chance someone will view your resume on a much smaller screen than you used to make it. Knowing this, it makes sense to avoid any complicated formatting that may not carry over or appear as originally intended. That doesn’t mean a cookie cutter template is superior to a customized resume, but be aware that a complex or fancy-looking layout may not always present the message you wish—especially if it doesn’t show up at all.

“Don’t burn your bridges!” You’ve likely heard these words from a well-meaning voice before, to the point of being cliché. However, it is sound career advice, especially for younger employees.

Now, this doesn’t mean you have to be a “Yes Man” or that you should never speak up or challenge a decision you disagree with. Rather, it means you should act like a professional. Reasonable people won’t see eye-to-eye on every single issue, but there is a right and wrong way to handle disputes. The right way: use the accepted problem resolution protocol. Usually this means reaching out directly to your supervisor or manager and discussing your concerns privately. If your problem persists, you should reach out to another manager (e.g. someone in Human Resources) to address your issue.

The wrong way: airing out your business with anyone and everyone who will listen or resorting to backhanded, petty methods of displaying your displeasure. Not only could this disrupt your colleagues, who have nothing to do with the problem, but it also broadcasts a sense of immaturity on your part. People talk, and a “difficult-to-work-with” reputation is hard to shake. It also could follow—and limit—your future career prospects.